Car-spring



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

G. GIBBS. GAR SPRING.

PatentedDeo. 2.0, 189.21. C V

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2 SheetsL-Sheet 2.

G. GIBBS. GAR spRING No Modell) No. 488,474, Patented Deo. 20, 1892.

Tries.

PATENT GEORGE GIBBS, OF MILWAUKEE, VISOONSIN.

CAR-SPRING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 488,474, dated December20, 1892.

Application fled November 23, 1891. Serial No.4=l2,832. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE Gines, of Mil- Waukee, county of Milwaukee,and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvement inOar-Springs, etc., of which the following is a specification.

Railway cars are commonly provided at the present day withbolster-springs to ease the motion of the body and prevent shocks as thecar passes over inequalities in the track. In practice it is found thatthese springs, particularly those of helical form, have atendency tovibrate in a short, quick and disagreeable manner. It is the aim of myinvention to avoid this action by dampening or ret-arding theirmovements, and to this end I introduce between the upper and lowercapplates of the spring, or between that portion of the car-truck framewhich is rigid on the axles, and that portion of the truck or body whichhas its action relieved by the spring, friction devices consistingessentially of plates sliding on each other under pressure, in suchmanner that they may resist sudden movements without materiallyaffecting the capacity of the springs under static pressure. Thedampening devices may be connected directly with the springs in the samebundle, or applied independently at any suitable point. They areapplicable not only in ordinary railway cars having swiveling trucks,but also in street cars having axles in fixed positions, to prevent thedisagreeable dancing or bobbing action of the car body.

In the accompanying drawings,-Figure 1 is a side elevation of a helicalcar-spring provided with my improvement. Fig. 2 is a top plan view ofthe same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same in an alternative form.

Referring to Figs. l and 2, AA dac., represent four helical springsmounted in an upright position between top and bottom plates C and D.Theplates are formed or provided respectively atl the middle withvertical interacting plates or leaves c andd, which may be Varied innumber, and which slide frictionally upon each other as the top platerises and falls with the springs. The friction plates or leaves aredrawn forcibly together by a horizontal spiral spring E, which actsagainst a washer f, fixed on one end of abolt F, extending through theleaves and provided with nut f. When the tension of springE is properlyadjusted the friction between the leaves -Will be such as to permit afree and easy action of the main springs, but at the same time, preventthe disagreeable sudden and short vibrations referred to above. Thevertical leaves may be formed or applied in any suitable manner, but Irecommend the construction represented in the drawings. The bottomplat-e is composed of two parts or plates b" b', riveted to anunderlying plate b2, and bent upward at their inner edges to form theleaves or friction surfaces. The top-plate is made in like manner of twoparts bent into angular form, and connected by rivets c', their verticalleaves being held apart by an intermediate leaf and the spreading barse2, through which the rivets pass. The lower leaves are slottedvertically that the bolt may not interfere with their motioin-and theupper leaves are preferably turned upward at their lower ends to confineplates c3, in order to afford a larger and firmer bearing for the end ofthe bolt and to distribute the pressure.

Referring now to Fig. 8, it will be observed that the constructiontherein shown, as regards the friction devices, is essentially the sameas in the preceding figures. As herein shown, however, the structure isindependent of the springs and is adapted for application at anysuitable point between the body or bolster and the underlying frame ortruck to dampen the vertical vibration of the body. The top-plateconsists of a series of dat plates c. c. c2 te each bent at aright anglein order to present a vertical downwardly-projecting friction member.The horizontal portions of the plates are seated one upon another andriveted firmly together. The bottom-plate B is constructed in likemanner. The vertical portions of the upper and lower plates orleavespassing between each other, as in the iirst form of apparatus, are drawntogether by means of two springs E E', applied to opposite ends of athrough-bolt D, which encircles the bolt and are seated against washersupon its ends. The plates or leaves being urged together by means ofsprings operate in the same manner and with the same effect as those inthe first described device. One of the springs may be omitted and asingle spring used with the bolt, as in the first example.

IOO

In the first form of device the bolt may be elongated and two springsused, as shown in Fig. 3.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is,-

l. A dampening mechanism for springs, consisting essentially of aplurality of fiat friction plates lying face to face in planes parallelto the line of action of the spring, and a spring independent in itsaction of the movement of the parts and adapted to press and hold saidplates together with a constant pressure, substantially as shown anddescribed.

2. In combination with a ear spring, a damp ening or retarding mechanismcomprising a plurality of Hat parallel plates secured to one of theparts between which the spring acts, and a plurality of similar platessecured to the other parts, said plates alternating` with each other, abolt passing through coinciding slots in the plates, and a springmounted on the bolt and acting to press the plates together and tomaintain a constant frictional Contact, substantially as shown anddescribed.

3. The combination with a car spring of a dampening or retardingapparatus, comprising a plurality of ['latfriction plates securedalternatel y to the opposite parts between which the spring works andlying together face to face in planes parallel. to the line ot' actionot' the spring, and a spring for pressing said plates together with aconstant pressure, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand, this 10th day of September,1891, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

GEORGE GIBBS.'

Vitnesses:

W. H. ELLIOTT, J. C. Grunn.

